Silver Spoons

August 30, 2017

Worn with use, the handles shown above still reveal a precious beauty. “The term coin silver is misunderstood,” says Erik Voss, a collector and researcher in Fullerton, California. Coin denoted that the piece met the coin standard of .900, but with only one assay office—the Baltimore Assay Office—in the country, the variations among manufacturers were great.

TextAmy CatesStyling Lindsay Kessler

For more information on treasured collectibles, see “Silver Spoons” on page 28 of the September/October 2008 issue of Victoria.

1 COMMENT

When going to visit any local antique shops, I am immediately drawn to the sterling silver items on display ! My love affair with sterling silver started about 20 years ago and since then I have collected a fair amount including flatware, tea sets, tea caddies, candlesticks, pitchers, napkin rings, and even ornate lids for cut crystal dresser jars!

The rich patina of antique silver items can not be duplicated nor the item’s history throughout its lifetime. Sometimes I think about who the previous owners were when I pour a cup of tea from my favourite morning breakfast sterling teapot which was made in 1911 in England. Did this teapot pour comforting tea to those who were sickly, those celebrating a new family members’ birth, or during the misfortunes of war or a broken heart ?

The next time you stir your cup of tea or coffee, think about the spoon you are using and wonder about its rich and intriguing history !

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